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Penn State 2016 recruit Miles Sanders debuts at No. 42 in Rivals100 rankings

Penn State Football Elite Camp III

Verbal commit running back Miles Sanders at Lasch Football Complex during the Penn State Senior Elite Camp in State College on Saturday, July 19, 2014.
Elizabeth Frantz, PennLive
(PennLive/The Patriot-News)

Sanders is a four-star prospect who committed to Penn State and coach James Franklin last weekend. He was a regular attendee on the PSU campus, attending Junior Day on Feb. 15 and camp on June 8, as well as two more unofficial visits in the last three months. He gave his pledge at Franklin's Elite Camp in July 19.

Sanders stands at 5-11 and 192 pounds and has a wide array of skills, from breakaway speed to slick footwork to make defenders miss in the open field. He's shown the ability to run both inside and out while at Woodland Hills and can attack defenses on the ground and through the air.

Sanders will be part of a future backfield mix that includes 2014 recruits Mark Allen, Johnathan Thomas and Nick Scott, as well as '15 prospects Saquon Barkley and Andre Robinson. With current junior Akeel Lynch likely set to take on starting duties next season, the running back depth chart should remain an area of strength for the foreseeable future.

Sanders also represents another step in the right direction for the Nittany Lions as they aim to lock up the best talent in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. Franklin has commitments from six of the top nine players in the state in the 2015 class, according to 247sports.com's composite rankings, and has made his mark in Maryland and New Jersey, as well.

Four-star offensive tackle Sterling Jenkins was the first significant recruiting victory in western Pennsylvania under Franklin's watch. He chose the Nittany Lions over a slew of other schools, including Alabama, Michigan and Ohio State. Defensive backs coach Terry Smith, former head coach at Gateway High School in Monroeville, Pa., led the recruitment of both Jenkins and Sanders.

If Franklin can have the same kind of success in the Mid-Atlantic region in the 2016 class, Penn State could be poised for even better results. Thirteen prospects in the Rivals100 hail from Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Washington, D.C., led by top PSU targets DT Rashan Gary (No. 8), DE Rahshaun Smith (No. 15) and DE Shane Simmons (No. 25).

Simmons will be the next domino to fall as he's set to announce a college decision this Wednesday at DeMatha Catholic (Md.) High School. Penn State is in his top five, along with Florida State, Maryland, Ohio State and Alabama, and stands a chance of landing the talented four-star strong-side defensive end. The Seminoles are still viewed as the team to beat.

The 2015 and '16 recruiting classes will play key roles in the resurgence of Penn State's football program. They'll be the first classes to sign with Franklin while providing necessary reinforcements on a roster that has depth issues on its current roster. The 2014 season is viewed as the likely low point of NCAA sanctions against the program.

So far so good, with Penn State getting its full allotment of scholarships back next season and Franklin currently owning the No. 6 class in the nation in '15. Sanders' commitment could also get the ball rolling in 2016.